Ice-making machine



Patented Jan. 31,1950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice making machine and more particularly toa machine for continuously making blocks of ice.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved chainconstruction for asso ciation with a refrigerated surface which willpermit blocks of ice to be frozen therein and efficiently removed fromthe surface with the chain.

Another object is to produce an improved chain construction which willpermit blocks of ice to be formed therein when trained over arefrigerated rotating drum and will remove the blocks from the drumwithout cracking or breaking said blocks or producing such a strain asto break the chain when the chain is removed.

A further object is to produce an improved link chain having double openmolds which can be trained over a refrigerated drum immersed in waterand a sprocket member to thereby continuously produce blocks of ice andremove them from the drum and the molds without cracking or breakin theblocks.

Still a further object is to produce an improved chain for a continuousice making machine which will he composed of metal links so pivotallyconnected together that molds will be formed for making blocks of icewhen the chain is associated with a refrigerated drum and when the chainis removed from the drum in a tangential direction the blocks of icewill be removed therewith without application of ice breaking forcesacting on the blocks as the chain is straightened.

Yet another object of the invention is to embody in a metal link chainfor a continuous ice making machine yieldable dividers for producing iceblock molds which are so associated with the pivotal connections of thelinks as to permit the chain to be straightened out for removal from acurved refrigerated surface without crackin or breaking the ice blockswhich have been previously formed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showingan embodiment.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of an endless chain embodying myinvention and being associated with a refrigerated drum and an ice blockremoving sprocket of an ice machine;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of parts of the chain and the manner inwhich the links engage the refrigerated drum surface;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top view of a section of the chain;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the yieldable divider associatedwith each pivotal connection of the links;

Figure 6 is a side view of one of the links; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a link taken on the line 1-4 of Figure6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved chain construction isgenerally indicated by the letter C and is capable of being employed inthe manufacture of block ice by association with a refrigerated surfacewhich may be either flat or curved. In the particular type of icemachine in which the chain is shown as being employed, there is arotating drum D of cylindrical construction containing the liquidrefrigerant R of the well known refrigeratin system. The drum D isarranged to be continuously rotated by a suitable driving mechanismincluding an electric motor (not shown). The drum D is mounted within atank containin water W so that when the chain C is trained over thedrum, water can enter the compartments of the chain and become frozeninto blocks by the withdrawal of heat. The chain C, in addition to beingtrained over the drum, is also trained over a sprocket wheel 8 mountedon an axis parallel to the axis of the drum. This sprocket wheel S is sodesigned as to remove the blocks of formed ice from the chain, as willbecome later apparent.

The chain C is made from a plurality of links I, one of which is shownin detail in Figures 6 and 7. Each link has a plate-like rectangularbody 2 provided with extensions 3 and 4 extending from its side edgesadjacent the bottom of the body. The bottom edge formed by the body andthe extensions is arranged to form a continuous curved surface 5 whichhas a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature ofthe external surface of the drum D so that each link can have fullcontact with the drum surface throughout the length of the link. In theparticular link employed, the body 2 of the link has one flat face 6which is normal to the curved surface 5 at the lower edge of the link.The opposite face surface 1 of the body of the link is arranged to be ata slight angle to the surface 6 so that the thickness of the body of thelink adjacent its bottom is the greatest and the thickness graduallydecreases towards the top edge where its thickness is the thinnest. The

surface 1 adjacent to where it Joins the curved surface 5 flaresoutwardly, as indicated at 8, so as to give the curved surface 5 agreater area of contact with the outer surface of the drum. Thus withthis increased contacting area between each link and the drum surface,it is possible to obtain a greater transfer of heat through thebody ofthe link to the drum and from the drum to the liquid refrigerant. Sincethe surface l of the link and the flared surface 8 is to form one wallof a compartment or mold embodied in the chain and in which the block ofice is to be frozen, the flared surface will be capable of transferringa lifting force to the formed block of ice to disengage it from the drumsurface whenever-the chain is removed from the drum surface.

The extensions 3 and 4 are provided respec tively with pivot holes 9 andIt. The extension 3, which is to be the rear extension of each link, h

has a portion H which extends beyond the open ing 9 to provide acontinuation of the surface 5, the purpose of which is to produce aprying force on a succeeding connected link as will later becomeapparent.

The links l are arranged to be pivotally connected by means of pivotrods [2 to thus form the chain C having a'plurality of openings formingcompartments or molds M. To accomplish this the rear extensions 3 of onelink and the forward extension l of the adjacent link are pivotallyconnected by the pivot rcd 2 to form a plurality of series of linkswitheach series providing an endless flexible structure, In this endlessstructure the links are constructed and arranged so that adjacentconnected links have their straight surfaces 6 opposed to each other sothat the flared portions and portions M will not interfere with freepivoting. The several series of links forming the endless flexiblestructures are arranged to be in parallel spaced relation withcorresponding laterally spaced links of each series having common pivotpoints on pivot rods l2. Thus between laterally spaced links of theendless structures there are formed molds M closed at the sides by thelinks and open at the bottom and top.

To form the end walls of these molds M there is provided across thechain at each pivot rod partitions I3. These partitions have a U-shapedform and are made out of a material having a flexible wall, whichmaterial may be metal or any other suitable material, but preferably amaterial of a good heat conducting characteristic. The space between thelegs of each U-shaped partition is filled with a readily yieldablematerial such as soft rubber It so as to fill up the complete space andprevent any ice from forming between the legs. The partitions aremounted so that the pivot rods will be received between the legs thereofadjacent the base with the rods extending through the yieldable fillermaterial I. The partitions are provided with a series of notches I5 soas to receive the extensions 3 and 4 of adjacent connected links. TheU-shaped partitions have their legs in slightly diverging relationshipso as to insure that they will be in close relationship with thestraight end edges of adjacent links when the chain is trained over thecurved surface of the drum. With this arrangement the mold M will havewalls which are closely re lated at the corners in order that verylittle water will be between the walls at the corners and thus becomefrozen when the blocks of ice are formed.

The sprocket wheel 8 which is mounted on the axle 15 positioned parallelto the axis of the drum is provided with a plurality of sprockets ll ofa size and arrangement to be received in the molds M of the chain asbest illustrated in Figure 1. These sprockets are thus capable ofpushing 4 out the blocks of ice formed in the molds as the chain passesover the sprocket wheel.

With the chain constructed as shown and trained over the drum and thesprocket wheel, it will be caused to move slowly through the water Wadjacent the drum D by the rotation of the drum at a suitable speed. Dueto the particular curvature of the bottom surfaces 5 of the links, thelinks will fit down and fully engage the drum surface and as the chainis caused to move through the water, blocks of ice ,will be formed inthe molds. The molds will be substantially filled with ice by the time aparticular mold reaches a point where the chain begins to leave the drumin a tangential run toward the sprocket wheel. As the chain straightensout during its tangential run the links will be lifted from the drumsurface. The blocks of ice formed in the mold will be removed from thedrum surface with the links. Due to the particular form of each link,each mold will have a smaller cross sectional area at its bottom than atits top and consequently the links, as they move away from the drum,will carry with them the ice blocks. Due to each link being constructedwith the portion 5! on the rear extension 3 there will be produced aprying action on the next succeeding link and this prying action willlift said succeeding link and the block of ice from congealed engagementwith the drum. The particular prying action is illustrated in Figure 1wherein the link L, which has already left the drum and assumed aposition at the beginning of the tangential run of the chain, will byits portion II on the extension 3 pry the forward end of the succeedinglink L' away from the drum. As the link L assumes the position of thelink L its extending portion II will then pry the succeeding link L"from the drum and so on as the chain leaves the drum.

As the links leave the drum and begin the tangential run of the chain,the link L, for example, will also swing about the pivot rod l2 and moverelatively to the succeeding link L and thus cause the upper portions ofthe two links to become closer together. This movement of the upperportions of the two links L and L towards each other will produce nobreaking force on the blocks of ice, due to the yieldable constructionof the partition H! which allows for the legs of the partition to beflexed towards each other. When the links are in the tangential run thelegs of each U-shaped partition will be forced to assume substantiallyparallel relation, as can be seen in Figure 1, When the links at the endof the tangential run begin to go over the sprocket wheel there willalso be a pivoting of the links relative to each other, but in theopposite direction to their relative movement as they left the drum,consequently the legs of the U-shaped partitions will again be free toassume their diverging relationship and what force is being exerted onthe ends of the blocks of ice will be relieved'so that the sprockets ll'can a easily push out these blocks of ice from the mold.

The freed blocks of ice will be carried over sprocket wheel and can thenfall onto a suitable chute and slide to any desired receptacle.

When a continuous block ice making machine is equiped with the describedimproved chain embodying the invention, uncracked and uniform shapedblocks will result. The blocks of ice will be formed in a minimum oftime as the chain passes around the refrigerated drum, due to the factthat the links are made of good heat con- 5, ducting material and have adirect maximum surface contact with the drum surface so that heat can bereadily drawn out of the water to the refrigerant through the links. Theblocks of ice and the links are readily removed from the drum as thechain leaves the drum due to the particular construction of the linkscausing a prying action of a link just freed from the drum on thesucceeding link, The yieldable partition construction between the moldsalso insures that there will be no breaking or cracking of the blocks ofice. Another very important result obtained by this particular partitionconstruction is the relieving of undesirable forces on the pivot rods ofthe links so as to insure that these pivot rods will not be broken. Ifthe yieldable partitions were not present there would be created suchlarge forces on the pivot rods as the chain straightened out that it ispossible the pivot rods would be bent or broken. The yieldability of thepartitions prevents these undesirable forces from developing.

Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the particulardisclosed chain construction without departing from. the fundamentalprinciples of the invention, it is not intended that the scope of saidinvention be limited in any manner except as set forth by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of wateradjacent thereto, a. chain for association with the refrigerated surfaceprovided with molds in which blocks of ice can be formed, means forremoving the chain together with blocks of ice formed in the molds, themolds of said chain being constructed with rigid side walls swingablyconnected together on the side of the chain adjacent the refrigeratedsurface and yieldable dividing partitions ass0- ciated with theswingable connections to thereby permit the molds to be successivelymoved away from the refrigerated surface without such forces beingproduced on the blocks of ice as to cause any appreciable crackingthereof.

2. In an ice making machine a curved refri erated surface, a body ofwater adjacent thereto. a chain for association with the curvedrefrigerated surface provided with rigid sided molds in which blocks ofice are to be formed, means for removing the molds and the ice formedtherein from the refrigerated surface by successively placing the moldsin a tangential line with respect to the refrigerated surface, means forswingably connecting the molds together on the side of the chainadjacent the refrigerated surface, and a yieldable body of materialassociated with each swingable connection and positioned between themolds.

3. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of wateradjacent thereto, a chain for association with the refrigerated surfaceand comprising parallel and serially arranged links of rigid heatconducting material, means for pivoting the adjacent ends of the linkstogether at points close to the refrigerated surface, means comprisingyieldable material associated with the pivots and forming a partitionbetween the space defined by two parallel links and the space betweentwo succeeding parallel links, and means for successively removing thelinks from the refrigerated surface.

4. In a machine for making ice, a refrigerated surface, a body of wateradjacent thereto, a plurality of members for separable engagement withthe refrigerated surface and arranged in. laterally spaced relation,each of said members being formed of strip links pi'votally connectedtogether to provide relative swinging movement therebetween, means formoving the members away from the refrigerated surface after ice isformed between adjacent members, and yieldable means associated with thepivotal connection of the links and extending crosswise between'themembers to permit relative swinging movement of the members withoutbreaking force on the sections of ice confined between members and thecrosswise yieldable means.

5. In a machine for making ice, a curved refrlgerated surface, a body ofwater adjacent thereto, a chain having a plurality of molds swingablyconnected together for relative movement, and means for removing thechain from the refrigerated surface. said chain comprising rigid heatconducting links pivoted together at points which will be close to therefrigerated surface and yieldable means associated with the pivotalconnections and extending between laterally positioned links and formingend Walls for adjacent molds to thereby permit sufiicient limitedrelative swinging movement of the links so that the chain can becomestraightened without producing a breaking force on the blocks of iceformed in the molds.

6. In an ice making machine, a rotatable refrigerated drum, a. bod ofwater adjacent the drum, a rotatable member having an axis parallel tothe drum, and an endless chain trained over the drum and member, saidchain being provided with ice forming molds pivotally connected togetherwith said molds having side walls made from rigid heat conductingmaterial and end walls associated with the pivotal connectionsconstructed to yield and permit the blocks of ice to move relativelytoward each other without cracking when the chain leaves the drum topass over the rotatable member.

'7. In an ice making machine, a refrigerated surface, a body of wateradjacent thereto, a chain for association with the refrigerated surfaceand in which blocks of ice can be frozen, said chain comprising paralleland serially arranged rigid links of heat conducting material, pivotrods for the links pivotally joining adjacent ends of serial links andlike parallel links, said rods being closely adjacent the edges of thelinks next to the refrigerated surface, means comprising bodies ofyieldable material associated with the pivot rods and providingyieldable partitions between adjacent spaces defined by parallel linksand in which blocks of ice are to be formed, and means for successivelymoving groups of parallel links away from the refrigerated surface.

8. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having anadjacent body of water, said chain being constructed to have a pluralityof longitudinally arranged ice forming molds swingably connectedtogether at points which are to be adjacent the refrigerated surface,and yield- F able means between the longitudinal molds to permit themolds to swing relatively to each other as the chain is removed from therefrigerated surface and without the establishment of such opposedlongitudinal forces on the blocks of ice formed in the mold as to causebreaking thereof.

9. In a. chain for association with a refrigerated surfacehaving anadjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality of seriallyarranged ice forming molds arranged to engage the refrigerated surface,means for pivotally connecting the molds together with adjacent endwalls in spaced relation and the pivotal axis closely adjacent the sideof which is to be associated with the refrigerated surfaces, and ayieldable material interposed between the adjacent end walls.

10. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having anadjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality oflongitudinally arranged ice forming molds provided with rigid walls oneach side of their longitudinal axis, means for pivotally connecting themolds together, said pivotal connection being closer to the refrigeratedsurface than the outer parts of the molds when the chain is associatedwith the refrigerated surface, and yieldable means associated with themolds adjacent the pivotal connections for permitting relative pivotalmovement of a mold relative to an adjacent mold and away from therefrigerated surface without producing breaking forces on the ice formedin said molds.

11. In an ice mold structure for association with a refrigerated surfacehaving an adjacent body of water, said structure comprising pivotallyconnected links in serial and parallel relation, partitions at thepivotal connections of the links to define ice forming molds, saidpivotal connections being on the side of the structure which is to beadjacent the refrigerated surface and yieldable means associated withthe partitions permitting relative swinging movement of the definedmolds and the ice blocks formed therein away from the refrigeratedsurface without the establishment of opposed longitudinal breakingforces on the blocks of ice.

12. In a chain for association with a curved refrigerated surface havingan adjacent body of water, said chain comprising links arranged inserial and parallel relation and said links having curved edge surfacescorresponding to the curvature of the refrigerated surface and beingmade from rigid heat conducting material, means for connecting the linkstogether to permit each of the serially arranged links to have swingingmovement relative to adjacent connected links, and yieldable partitionsassociated with the connections and extending crosswise betweenlaterally spaced links to define ice block forming molds and to permitthe relative swinging of the links without establishment of suchlongitudinally opposed forces on formed blocks of ice asto causebreaking thereof when the chain is straightened during its removal fromthe curved refrigerated surface.

13. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having anadjacent body of water, said chain comprising parallel and seriallyarranged rigid links, pivot rods for the links pivotally joining theadjacent ends of serial links and like parallel links, said rods beingclosely adjacent the edges of the links'for association with therefrigerated surface, a U-shaped crosswise partition interposed betweenthe ends of the links pivotally connected by the rod, and a yieldablematerial filling the space between the legs of each partition, thebottom of the U-shaped partition with the yieldable material beingpivoted to the rod and the material of the partition being flexible.

14. In a chain for association with a refrigerated surface having anadjacent body of water, said chain comprising a plurality of links eachcomprising a body provided with extensions on their forward and rearwardends thereof and having pivot holes therein adjacent the side of thechain that is to be'next to the refrigerated surface, said rear endextension having a portion projecting beyond the pivot hole and forminga continuation of the bottom edge surface of the link which is to engagethe refrigerated surface, rods for pivotally connecting the linkstogether in parallel and serial arrangement, and means comprising ayieldable body associated with each pivot rod and forming a yieldablepartition between the spaces defined by parallel links on opposite sidesof said rod.

15. A link for embodying in a chain for association with a refrigeratedsurface of an ice making machine, said link comprising a body portionhaving extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part of the body, saidextensions being of less height than the body of the link and providedwith holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links, one ofsaid extensions having a .portion extending beyond the pivot holetherein and providing a surface forming a continuation of the bottomsurface of the body of the link.

16. A strip link for embodying in a chain for association with arefrigerated surface of an ice making machine, said link comprising abody portion having extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part ofthe body which is to be positionable next to the refrigerated surface,said extensions being of less height than the body of the link andprovided with holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links,and said body having a. thickness which is greatest at the bottom andthe thickness at any point between the bottom and the top being nogreater than the thickness at any point closer to the bottom.

17. A strip link for embodying in a chain for association with a curvedrefrigerated surface of an ice making machine, said link comprising abody portion having extensions at each end adjacent the bottom part ofthe body which is to be positionable next to the refrigerated surface,said extensions being of less height than the body of. the link andprovided with holes for pivotal connection with the ends of like links,and said body having a bottom edge of a curvature to fully engage thecurved refrigerated surfaces and the thickness of the body at the bottomedge being the greatest and the thickness at any point between saidbottom edge and the top being no greater than the thickness at any pointcloser to the bottom.

18. In an ice making apparatus, a body of water, means of absorbing heatfrom the water to form ice, an ice mold positionable in the water, saidmold comprising longitudinal and lateral partitions arranged to formcompartments in which ice can be frozen, said longitudinal partitionscomprising rigid partitioning members of heat conducting materialswingably fastened together at their adjacent ends and in a manner toprovide spaced relation at adjacent ends, and lateral partitioning meansincluding yieldable material extending transversely of the longitudinalpartitions, and positioned to fill the space between the ends of thesaid swingable partitioning members to permit said ice molds to flexfrom a normal position after ice has been frozen in the said formedcompartments.

l9. Partitioning means for an ice mold structure to be placed in a bodyof water, said means comprising spaced apart partitions embodyingyieldable material, and other spaced apart partitions of rigid heatconducting material arranged transversely of the first named partitionsand swingably attached at their ends to said first named partitions.

20. Partitioning means for an ice mold structure to be placed in a bodyof water, said means comprising spaced apart partitions formed t: spacedside walls of heat transfer material capa v ble of fiexure together withyieldable material. filling the space between the side walls, and otherspaced apart partitions of rigid heatl c'ori' ducting material arrangedtransversely of the first named partitions and swingably attached attheir ends to said first named partitions. RAY M. HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Barrett et a1 Feb. 25, 1935 Number

